Toronto businesses may have to screen all customers
Ontario’s new five-stage system to help regions better move in and out of restriction levels
Toronto is expecting, on Nov. 14, to move into the orange “restrict” zone, under Ontario’s new five-stage system for classifying COVID-19 business opening restrictions.
Many businesses in the orange zone, including restaurants and gyms, will have to screen customers before they enter their establishments.
Some business leaders are concerned that this could create long lineups and deter people from patronizing local businesses at a time when they need it most. Others await the details on what exactly will be required.
This five-stage system, announced Tuesday, is intended to help regions move in and out of various COVID-19 restriction levels more effectively. The colour-coded stages are green (prevent); yellow (protect); orange (restrict); red (control) and grey (lockdown).
The framework will come into effect Nov. 7, though Toronto will move to the orange-coloured “restrict” category Nov. 14.
While in the orange zone, restaurants, gyms, event spaces and more will have to screen patrons. For retail businesses, only malls will be required to screen upon entry. The framework doesn’t provide specifics on the screening requirements, but does indicate a questionnaire could be an option.
James Rilett, Restaurants Canada’s vice-president for Central Canada, said while some restaurant owners are “nervous” about the increased requirements, they’re waiting for details on what exactly they have to do.
Many have already been doing some form of questionnaire, even temperature-checking, he said, so for some, not much will change.
“I don’t think it’ll be anything new, but there’s still nervousness around exactly how in depth the government expects us to get, whether we have to keep paperwork on it or if it’s just something you have to ask at the door,” he said.
James Lee’s restaurant, Arisu Korean BBQ & Sushi, has already been screening patrons arriving for patio or indoor dining (when it was available), checking their temperatures and asking a series of screening questions, in addition to contact tracing.
It’s just one of the many additional costs COVID-19 has created for his business.
“I am willing to protect myself and my customers,” Lee said.
If the screening requires businesses to procure technology such as a thermometer, Rilett hopes the government will be patient as business owners work to meet the requirements.
In an email, a spokesperson for the Retail Council of Canada said the organization “is supportive of Ontario’s new colour code system as it provides predictability and helps our retailers plan throughout the holiday season.”
Ryan Mallough, director of provincial affairs for Ontario for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), said though he’s all for screening customers for safety’s sake, he’s concerned that if the screening isn’t streamlined enough, it could cause long lineups and wait times in the cold, deterring customers from shopping in person.
Whatever the province asks businesses to do, it needs to be “crystal clear,” said Mallough, and put as little of the onus on the employer as possible.
For example, if an employee is required to stand at the entrance of a mall or restaurant and screen everyone, that would be a lot more time-consuming than a self-screening at the door, he said.
Alex Kucharski, a director of the Ontario Independent Fitness Studio Association and an F45 studio owner in Toronto, said the requirements shouldn’t be a problem for fitness studios as long as they aren’t too prescriptive.
For example, a verbal survey by an employee would be much more efficient than a paper survey, he said.
And as the holiday season approaches, Mallough is worried the screening will send more shoppers to on e-commerce giants such as Amazon, and that less money will go to hard-hit businesses.
“We’re certainly seeing that sentiment about the desire to support local,” he said. “The question is, is that going to translate into your shopping habits?”
Mallough hopes that those who do their holiday shopping online will seek out small and local retailers, even if it takes a little more time.
Mary Watson is on board with that. She has done all of her holiday gift shopping from the comfort of her Vaughan home and made an effort to shop from smaller Canadian retailers — beef jerky from Alberta, fabric for homemade masks from Manitoba, puzzle and art from local stores …
“I’m not concerned about what the businesses are doing,” she says regarding safety measures. “I’m concerned about other people.”